Seat operated switch



Sept. 26, 1944. 0. K. SILVER 2,359,254

SEAT OPERATED SWITCH Filed April 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 Inventor 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor viii &3:

Orvzlle ffenweifi/ Sal B Y 24 Md Sept. 26, 1944. 0. K. SILVER SEAT OPERATED SWITCH Filed April 8, 1945 Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAT OPERATED SWITCH Orville Kenneth Silver, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 8, 1943, Serial No. 482,296

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in seat operated switches for use in electrical systems for indicating the presence of vacant seats in a theater.

An important object of the invention is to provide a positive acting and substantially foolproof switch structure for seats for use in conjunction with an electrical indicating means to indicate when the seat is not occupied. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch from which sparks cannot be emitted and which would frighten patrons in a theater or perhaps cause a combustion in the event combustible vapors were adjacent, if it were not for the precautionary features involved.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a theater seat, showing in dotted lines the switch.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a theater seat with the seat section in elevated position and the switch, which is in dotted lines, shown in open position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the seat section showing one of the contact elements.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing one of the seat supporting ledges of the chair and contact means thereupon complementary to the contact means shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections between the electrical elements involved.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, numeral 5 generally refers to a substantially conventional theater'chair which includes side portions 6, 6, a back section 'l and inwardly disposed ledges 8 on the side portions 6 to support a swingable seat section 9 which is swingably supported as at l0. Suitable spring means I l serves to hold the seat 9 in raised position as shown in Figure 2, when the seat is not occupied in order to' maintain a switch l2 open.

Referring more specifically to the seat section 9, adjacent one side portion of the bottom thereof, an inset I3 is formed, to the top wall of which is secured a ring [4 of current conducting material heldagainst a disk [5 of insulation by a bolt I6, this bolt I6 passing through a washer I! overlying the central portion of the ring l4 and being eouipped with a nut l8 to hold the last-mentioned parts in place as suggested in Figures 5 and 6.

On one ledge 8 is a laterally disposed and curved protrusion l9 upon which sets a cup 20 of insulation. A plate 2| of suitable insulation is placed upon the bottom of the cup 20 and has secured thereon a pair of short arcuate-shaped spring contact members 23, 24, from which conductors 25, 26 extend.

When the seat 9 is in lowered position as shown in Figure 5, the contacts 23, 24 will bear against the contact ring l4, thus closing a circuit due to the fact that the ring I4 acts as a bridge between the contacts 23, 24.

When the seat -9 is lowered the well will encompass the cup 20 as the depending contact l4 moves into the cup to contact the contact ele ments 23, 24. Thus, it is practically impossible for a spark to escape to a point beyond this switch assembly.

Referring to- Figure 8, numeral 2! denotes a current supply line to a desired transformer 28. A lead 29 extends from the transformer 28 and it connects by branch wires 30 to various rows of seats such as A, B, C and D, these branch wires 30 being, in turn, connected by the conductors 26 to the seat switches 12. The aforementioned conductors 21 extend from the opposite sides of the switches I2, and each connects to a corresponding lamp 3| preferably located within an indicating box 32 and, of course, this vacant seat indicating box may be located somewhere at the rear of a theater where patrons and ushers can readily observe the same. From the remaining sides of the lamps 3| branch wires 33 extend to connect to a return wire 34 to the transformer 28.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

In combination, a chair having a hinged yieldingly raised seat, and side members having inwardly disposed ledges to support the seat when depressed, said seat having an insetformed in the bottom thereof near one side, one ledge having an inward protrusion directly below said inset, an insulating disc having a conducting ring on its under side and secured to the top wall of said inset, an insulating cup mounted on the protrusion and receivable in the inset when the seat is depressed, and spaced arcuate spring contacts mounted in the cup and engageable by the conducting ring when the seat is depressed, said protrusion and said cup being centrally apertured to permit passage of conductor wires therethrough to said contacts.

ORVILLE SILVER.

invention, what is 

